Dental Hygiene Tips For Children

Posted in News

June 2, 2016

It is important to keep your child’s dental health in check and most parents need to teach their children from the very beginning on how to take care of their teeth and dental hygiene. Most people are unaware that dental care should begin before the first milk teeth appear. Teeth are formed in the second trimester during pregnancy. At birth, babies have already developed 20 primary teeth in their jaws. You can start taking care of your infant’s dental hygiene by running a clean and damp washcloth on their jaws before they start teething.

There are few tips on how you can ensure your child’s oral hygiene and health is maintained. This will ensure that they have healthy gums and teeth and it will protect them from tooth decay and other complications that may arise from poor oral health care. Let’s take a look on a few of these tips.

Set an example

Children as young as 2 years old are able to mimic what they see adults do. They are eager to learn new things and every parent or guardian should take advantage of this by ensuring that they set a good example by cleaning their teeth regularly in front of them. You can begin by making sure the child is around you as you brush and floss and this way these routines are engraved in their minds and become a part of their daily activities.

Teach them how to brush

Ensure that you get the right toothbrush for young children. Use small but soft bristled toothbrush and they should be approved as suitable by the dental association. Milk teeth are very sensitive so make sure that you use very small amounts of toothpaste. Baby toothpaste is available and in the case your child might be using regular toothpaste with fluoride ensure that they use just a smear of it. Show them how to spit while brushing and rinse with water. You can follow up on their efforts after they are done brushing to ensure that the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.

Regulate on sugar intake

Sugar can stay for hours in a child’s mouth after ingestion. When this happens acidity forms in their mouth and eats away at the enamel which if not checked leads to cavities. It takes around 30 minutes for saliva to neutralize acidity which is produced by bacteria found in the mouth. If the child takes sugary snacks every now and then make sure that they brush regularly to avoid cavities. You can make them aware of the dangers associated with eating too much sugar.

Plan regular dental checkup appointments

Take your child to their first dental checkup as early as they turn one year old and then regularly thereafter. These visits ensure that your child is checked for cavities and the dentist will advise on how to prevent dental diseases. They also check on dental development and advise accordingly. There have been cases where older children, especially teens, need to use braces early enough to help align teeth. If this is the case there are options such as Invisalign in Mississauga to help your child have the best smile which in turn boosts their confidence.

Ensure your home is childproof

Children under the age of 7 are more prone to sustain dental injuries to their baby teeth. See to it that you childproof every sharp edge around your house especially counter tops and around staircases. Children who sustain dental injuries when they are that young and do not get proper dental care can get complications that can drag into their adulthood. The good news is that in the case of severe dental injuries, children’s teeth can be pulled out and permanent teeth will replace them.